North-East youth are ready to lead India’s skilled workforce: Jayant Chaudhary
The Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, along with senior officials, educators and participants, attends the inauguration of the IndiaSkills Regional Competition 2025–26 for the North-East at Gauhati University in Guwahati on Monday.
GUWAHATI: IndiaSkills Regional Competition 2025–26 for the North-East was inaugurated at Gauhati University, bringing together young competitors from all eight North-Eastern states across 26 skill categories.
The regional competition, being held in the North-East for the first time on Monday, is organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship with the National Skill Development Corporation as the implementation partner. The initiative aims to provide aspiring youth from the region a national-level competitive platform closer to home.
Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, said the competition reflects confidence in the capabilities of North-Eastern youth to play a leadership role in India’s skilled workforce. He said IndiaSkills was not just a contest but a celebration of excellence, discipline, and the dignity of work, adding that the region has vast talent and ambition that can contribute meaningfully to national growth.
The minister said sustained policy focus on the North-East has created new opportunities for young people, and initiatives like IndiaSkills help translate that vision by taking national platforms directly to the region. He also underlined the importance of integrating skilling with formal education under the National Education Policy 2020 to improve employability, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning outcomes.
The inauguration was attended by Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice Chancellor, Gauhati University; Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam; Hena Usman, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; and senior officials and stakeholders from the skilling ecosystem.
A total of 162 competitors are participating in the North East Regional Competition, representing diverse skill areas such as Automobile Technology, Cloud Computing, Mobile Applications Development, Software and Web Technologies, Digital Interactive Media, Electronics, CNC Milling and Turning, Welding, Electrical Installations, Fashion Technology, Bakery and Patisserie, Hotel Reception, Restaurant Service, Health and Social Care, Retail Sales, and Visual Merchandising.
Participants include students from Directorate General of Training institutions, including Industrial Training Institutes and National Skill Training Institutes, reflecting the growing alignment between vocational education and national-level competitive platforms. The competition has also seen increased participation of women in core technical and traditionally male-dominated trades, alongside a strong blend of digital, manufacturing, and service-sector skills aligned with Industry 4.0 and regional growth sectors such as tourism and services.
IndiaSkills follows a multi-tier evaluation process, beginning at district and state levels before advancing to regional and national competitions. Top performers from the regional stage will qualify for the IndiaSkills National Competition, with select winners earning the opportunity to represent India at the WorldSkills Competition scheduled to be held in Shanghai in September 2026.
